Alibi Picks

Prep Your Mountaintops

For many the lo-fi, folk-rock “movement” of the late-'90s begins and ends with Neutral Milk Hotel. Originally formed in Ruston, La. by singer/guitarist Jeff Mangum as a recording project, it wasn’t until the 1996 release of On Avery Island that Neutral Milk Hotel became a full-fledged band. The budding foursome relocated to New York, where they would finish their short-lived career with an exhaustive tour for sophomore release In the Aeroplane Over the Sea way back in 1998. Think Sebadoh-meets-Guided by Voices. Critically acclaimed yet largely ignored by the mainstream record-buying public, the album eventually became something of a legend in its own time.

Fast-forward 16 years, and NMH has become the progenitor of such roundly lauded bands as Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and Franz Ferdinand, and their music has been covered by Brand New, The Dresden Dolls and The Mountain Goats. After a lengthy hiatus, Neutral Milk Hotel has finally reunited to embark on a reunion tour featuring the lineup from their seminal release, In the Aeroplane. This show is for old and new fans alike—yes, even indie-folk has made a strong comeback in recent years—and In the Aeroplane is, for many, still the defining release of the genre’s first wave, seamlessly blending folk, rock, psychedelic and shoegaze into one succinct package. Neutral Milk Hotel's all-ages concert at Kiva Auditorium (401 Second Street NW) tomorrow night is a must-see. The show happens at 7:30pm; tickets start at $36, and lo-fi indie-pop group Elf Power opens. Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque Convention Center • Thu Apr 17 • 7:30pm • $36-$51 • ALL-AGES! • View on Alibi calendar